Article of furniture



- Filed May 14, 1946 June 20, 1950 B COCKRELL 2,512,416 ARTICLE OF FURNITURE 3 Sheets$heet 1 June 20, 1950 B. L. COCKRELL 2,512,416

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 78? 4, 51. fl/VCHEL. 6 0 0449544 June 1950 B. L. COCKRELL 2,512,416

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 14, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to articles of furniture, and more particularly a self-contained composite device which may be conveniently converted into several different articles of furniture.

Heretofore, convertible articles of furniture have been provided, such as exemplified in United States Patent Number 789,364. Such devices, however, employ complicated and objectionable linkage, guides and connecting members. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple, composite article of furniture in which the moveable components are secured together in assembled and in operative relation by relatively simple devices.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a composite article of furniture comprising a support for maintaining a member in position to serve as a table top or settee back, and a seat member which serves as a seat for the settee and also as seats or benches for use with a table.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a composite article of furniture comprising a support for supporting'a plate in position to serve as a tabletop or as a settee back, detachable means for securing the plate to the support, a composite seat having separate components which unite to form a unitary seat for the settee and which components are separable to form separate seats or benches for use with the article when employedv as a table, and telescopically-associated members for maintaining the seat components in predetermined relation to each other and to the support. It is also an object of this invention to provide a convertible article of furniture of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable, and inexpensive in construc tion, as well as conventional, practical, serviceable and efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View,

which will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

' For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article of Claims. (Cl. 155-43) furniture with its components arranged as a setpearing in elevation, of a modified tee;

Figure 2 is an end view of the article of furniture when employed as a table;

Figure 3 is a similar view but depicting the components of the seat as being separated to provide seats or benches for use with the table;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken through the lower portion of the device, with the components arranged as depicted in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, but depicting a modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section depicting, in detail, the assembled relation of components of the device;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a'detailed sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;. and

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view, parts apform of the invention. i

Referring tothe drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, there is depicted a composite convertible article of furniture whichincludes a support having spaced side members or uprights it which are united by a transversely-extending reach or cross-brace I I which is rigidly secured to the side members in any preferred manner. Each upright [0 has its intermediate portion reduced to define laterally spaced shoulders l2, from which laterally inclined edges l3 extend upwardly and outwardly, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The upper portion of each upright is provided 'with spaced horizontally-arranged pivot apertures l5 and I6 and spaced horizontallyarranged lock apertures l1 and I8.

A flat plate or panel 20 is provided, and this plate has spaced members or ribs 2| secured thereto and extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each member 2| is provided with alined pivot apertures 22 and 23, and alined lock apertures 25 and 26, for a reason to be hereinafterset forth.

In order to secure the plate 20 to the uprights it of the support, looking or pivot pins 27 and 21a (Figures 1 and 8), are provided. Each pin includes a cylindrical shank 28 and an enlarged thumb piece or head 30 which is spaced from the shank 23 of the pin by an annular member 3!. A shouldered and threaded aperture 32 extends transversely through the intermediate portion of each pin shank 28, and this aperture slidably reseparate seat members or benches 38, and each seat member includes a horizontal seat 'panel'lt and a perpendicularly-disposed panel or apron 41. supported by spaced legs 42.

Each outer panel 4! has a rod or slide member shank 28 of the pin 21a extends through alined apertures I6 and 23 formed in the upper portion of an upright H! and a rib 2|. If soft wood is employed, the apertures are preferably lined by thin cylindrical ferrules 60 having flaring terminal portions 6| received in the flaring inner terminals of the apertures, thereby forming an annular recess when the apertures are in alinement. Inasmuch as the inner terminals of the apertures are laterally enlarged, an annular recess is formed whether or not the metal linin provided. A preferred arrangement is one in which the apertures l5, I6, 22 and 23 are lined,

because-these are pivot apertures and receive The panels 40 and ll are secured toand more wear than the lock apertures l1, i8, 25 and 26, although all apertures may be lined if V desired;

43 rigidly secured thereto in perpendicular rela--- tion by any suitable means. A preferred means of securing the rod'43 to'the' panel il 'comprises an anchoring member having a cylindrical portion '45 and a perpendicular fi'ange AS; "The cylindrical portion 4'5"is rigidly seeurednto the rod 43 by "a transversely-eitendingpizn 41 and the flange 46 is secured to 'the' panel by:' means of screws 48, or othersuitable securing meansnrfrhe cylindrical portion'ddof the anchoring member is preferably receivedin =a cy lindrical aperture formed 'in the outerpan'ell I to thereby accurately locate the rod 43 with relation to the paneldsl.

In this form of 'the invention, the reacl'r' Hv is provided with'two "spaced horizontally disposed apertures *50 at its intermediate portion and each aperture 50 is" surrounded by: shallow icon centric recesses 5| which are formed in the opposed faces of the reach l 1,35 best-seen in Figure 6, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. A pipe or tubular member 52 ha's'its intermediate portion received in'e'ach 'a'perture' 5G, andeach tubular member""52 has'an annular. securing flange 53 suitably secured thereto, to formyin effect, an integral part of the tubularlmember. A similar annular flange 55 is *slidably' mounted on the tubular member 52, and theseppposed flanges i3 and "55 are'suitably "clampedto the reach I I by bolts SBwhich extend'through 'aline'd apertures for-medin the flanges and the reach I I, as best se'en'in' Figurefi: In theirblarnped relation,"th'e inner faces of 'the fiang'es'53' and 55 are received in the shallow recesses '5l, "and a tubular member-"52 is received" within avrecess 5|. 'Inasmuch as the apert'ures 5B 'and recesse's .51 are arranged in concentric relationyan'd rsince these 'recesses'receive the clamping flanges 53rand 55,"it is manifestthatafter-the bolts 55 have been sufiiciently tightened, 'the' tubular member 52 is rigidly secured to the'rea'ch H in accurate perpendicular relation,'- thus ensuring a strong and accurate 'assembly' Each rod 43 is slidablyortelescopically received within a tubular "member -'5-2,'so thatthe seat members 38 may be movedtowards' and away from "therea'ch II, as will "be more fully'explained hereinafter: Each -rod* l3 "is provided with a longitudinally-extended groove "5"! rFigures 4 and '6), and each*'grodve"receive's :the' inner portion of a stop or limit 'scre'w"58-which is threadedly secured *to the tubufarmemberfl,as best seen in 'Figu're'li. *Bydhi'sairrangement, the outer movement oftherodii relative to the tubular member'52 is limited by the"engagement of the inner"ter'mina1'so"f the groove 5"! with the'stop 'screw '58."

'Referringto Figure 8, it will be seen. that hb When the device is employed as a table, as seen in Figure 2, the pins 21 and 21a are inserted in the alined apertures I5, I6, 22 and 23, thereby rigidly securingthe;plate;20 to the uprights II, toform'aqtable top-..- ;..In this use of the device, the seat. members-38 are slidinwardly in abutting-relation over the reach H, and in this position, the outerterminals-of the seat members 38 coincide with thelateral terminals ofthe uprights i0, thus providing a -compactarrangement leaving space within'thelateralconfinesof the table top.

Thetable may bereadily converted into a settee;

as seen in -Figure -1 by removing the pins 21a fromthe alined apertures 46 and -23, and then swingingthe plateflfl about the pins 21 until the inner'face of the; lower-portion of the plate engages the selected inclined upperedges I3 of the uprights ifl. r In thiaposition, the apertures 25 aline--with-the1apertures 11, and-then the removed-pins: 2112 are reinserted into these apertures,-=thuslocking the plate in position to form a back fort-the settee, at one side thereof. The plate-'20 may-be secured-if desired in back-iormingposition-at the opposite sideof thesettee by reversing the operation and then (inserting I the removed [pins 21 into the alinedlockapertures ZB' and l8,

If it is desired to employthe-article of furnie ture as abreakfast'ordinette set, or for anyuse. requiring. ,a table and, opposedbenches, then the plate is positioned to iormf attable top, as hereinbeiore'described, and the seat members or benches 38 are;pulled routwardly until the, stop. screws .58 engage .the innerterminalsof [the groovesil formed. in the rods. 43, thereby. positioning the benches at the sideot the, tablewiththergguide rods 43 and tubular. members 52 located intermediatethe ends, of the table to permit free access to therhenchesfromtheendsthereof. Inasmuch as each ,rod 43 always has, ample bearing lengthlocated. telescopically, ,within eachv tubular member 52, even in the outermost, position of the benches, theserodsslide freely within the tubular members thus enabling the benches tobe readily moved relative to the support.

After use of thearticle as a breakfast set, if it is desired to convert the device into a settee, this may be readily done by sliding thebench mem'- hers. 38, inwardly until they engage each other to form a continuous seat, and then swinging the nlate 20 about selected alined' pivot pins 21 or 23 m, and thenlocking this plate in its back-form position. If the article-of furnitureis'locatedin a relatively'small kitchen alcove or nook, it may be moved to either side of 'thefnook and employed as a settee without attempting to turn the article of furniture withintthe limited space of thenook, becaus as hereinb'efore'stated,' the platefll] :may

be swung to either side of the uprights and there secured to form a backiforthesettee.

In the form of the invention depicted in Figure 5, only one tubular member 52a is employed, and this member has a rod 43a telescopically received in each terminal thereof. The outer terminal of each rod 43a is secured to an anchor plate or disc 46a, and this plate is secured to the outer face of the vertical outer panel 4 la of each seat member or bench 38a. Each outer panel is preferably provided with an aperture 60, to receive the outer terminals of the tubular member 52a, and a shallow concentric recess BI is formed in the outer face of the outer panel Ma'to receive the anchor plate 46a, to ensure that this anchor plate is located to-accurately position each rod 43a for accurate sliding reception within the tubular member 521;.

In this arrangement, an intermediate seat panel 39 extends between the uprights l a and is preferably secured to the upper terminal of the reach H, thereby combining with the reach H to form a T-shaped cross-brace to rigidly support the uprights l M. If desired, the opposed lateral terminals of the intermediate seat panel 39 are provided with projecting and pointed dowels 62 which are adapted to be received within apertures 63 formed in the inner edges of the seat panels 40a of the benches 38 when the benches are moved to their inner or seat-forming positions. This ensures that the panels Mia accurately aline with the intermediate seat panel 39.

With this arrangement, only one tubular member 52 is required to guide the bench members 38a in their movement to and from the reach I I, but ample leg room is provided at the sides of the uprights I'll, between these uprights and the benches 38a. l."he remaining components of this device are similar to those hereinbefore described.

If it is desired to lock the benches 38 in their inner and outer positions, the locking arrangement depicted in Figure 9 is employed. In this arrangement, each tubular member is secured to the reach H, in the manner hereinbefore disclosed. Either one or two tubular members may be employed, but in either instance, each tubular member 5222 is rovided with an elongated axiallyextending slot 55 having pernendicularlydisposed terminal slots 55. Each rod. 431) is provided with a projectin lug or screw 61, received within the said slots, for a pur ose to be hereinafter set forth. The outer terminal of each rod 432) is rotatably received in a sleeve or bushing 68 having a perpendicular flange which is secured to the front panel Mb of each bench by screws H, or other suitable securing devices. A shallow recess 72 is formed in the outer face of the front panel Mb to receive a manipulating disc or wheel 13 that is pinned or otherwise secured to the outer terminal of the rod 43?), as indicated at 15. In order to prevent the rod 43b from moving longitudinally relative to the sleeve 38, a collar 16 is pinned or otherwise secured to the rod, as indicated at Tl.

In the use of this locking device, when it is desired to move a bench, thus sliding a rod 437) within a tubular member 5212, the hand wheel 13 is turned counterclock-wise until the lug 6'! alined with the longitudinal slot 85, then the bench may be moved outwardly or inwardly until the lug 61 engages the selected terminal slot 66. Now the wheel is turned clock-wise, thereby moving the lug Bl into the selected slot 65, consequently locking the bench against movement relative to the support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. An article of furniture including separate uprights, a reach securing and spacing the uprights, a plate secured to the uprights to form a table top, separate seat members which nest below the table top and which are separably moveable to positions to form spaced benches, a tubular member rigidly secured to the reach, a slide member rigidly securedto each seat member and slidably received within the tubular member whereby the seat components are guided in their movement towards and away from the reach, and means for securing said slide and tubular members rigidly together.

2. An article of furniture including separate uprights, a reach securing and spacing the uprights, a plate secured to the uprights to form a table top, separate seat members which nest below the table top and which are separably moveable to positions to form spaced benches, a tubular member rigidly secured to the reach, a slide member rigidly secured to each seat member and slidably received within the tubular member whereby the seat components are guided in their movement towards and away from the reach, and means for limiting the outward sliding movement of each slide member relative to the tubular member whereby an appreciable portion of each slide member remains within the tubular member at the outermost position of the slide member.

3. An article of furniture including separate uprights, a reach securing and spacing the uprights, a plate secured to the uprights to form a table top, separate seat members which nest below the table top and which are separably moveable to positions to form spaced benches, a tubular member rigidly secured to the reach, a slide member rigidly secured to each seat member and slidably received within the tubular member whereby the seat components are guided in their movement towards and away from the reach, means for limiting the outward sliding movement of each slide member relative to the tubular member whereby an appreciable portion of each slide member remains within the tubular member at the outermost position of the slide member, and conveniently accessible means for manually locking each slide member to the tubular member to maintain the seat members in predetermined relation to each other.

4. An article of furniture including separate uprights, a reach having an aperture formed therein and securing and spacing the uprights, separate seat members which unite between the uprights to form a unitary seat and which are separably moveable to positions to form spaced benches, a tubular member extending through the aperture formed in the reach, a flange secured to the tubular member and adapted to engage one face of the reach, a flange slidable on the tubular member and adapted to engage the opposed face of the reach, securing members binding the flanges rigidly to the reach whereby the tubular member is firmly secured to the reach and extended perpendicularly from each face thereof, and a slide member rigidly secured to each seat member and slidably received within the tubular member whereby the seat components are guided in their movement towards and away from the reach.

5. An article of furniture including separate uprights, a reach securing'and spacing the uprights, the reach having an aperture formed therein and extending transversely therethrough 7; andshallowl recesses. forinedzineach face thereof in concentric relation with the aperture, separate seat members which unite between the .uprights to form a unitary seat and which are separabiy' moveable to positions to form spaced benches, a tubular'member extending, through the aperture, a flange secured to the tubular member and partially received in one of the recesses,- a flange slidable on the tubular member and partially receivedwithin the opposedrecess, and securing members extending through the reach and rigidly binding the flanges within the recesses whereby the tubular member is firmly secured tothe reach and extends perpendicularly from each face thereof, and a slide member rigidly secured to each seat member and slidably received within thetubular member whereby the 8; seat members are-guided in their =movement to-- wards and away from the-reach.

' BLANCH'E-LUCJILE COCKRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 1 Tumberv Name Date 365,362 Burt-, June-28, 1887 :.39 7,899 Curtiss Feb.v 19, 1889 789,364 Gauvin and -M00re May 9, 1905 910,395- Rogers Sept. 13, 1910 15 1,437,655 Zieiinsk. -JI- Mayi30, 1922 1,473,975 Reid Nov. .13, .1923 1,483,767

Becktel eta1. -Feb. 12, 1924 

